The family of a Singaporean woman who died of altitude sickness on her way to Mount Everest's base camp is seeking to fulfil her last wish of having her ashes scattered in Nepal.

Mr Steven Wong, brother of Ms Amy Wong Kum Ling, told the media that the family would likely keep half of her ashes in Singapore with their father's ashes, and scatter the other half in Nepal.

Mr Wong, who works in a local church, told the media at the wake yesterday that the family is seeking help from Ms Wong's friends who may be returning to Nepal in a few months' time to scatter the ashes in the mountains.

"We want to respect her last wishes," he said. But the decision also depends on whether their mother, who wanted to be known only as Madam Wong, agrees to it, said Mr Wong, 49.

He was quoted in earlier media reports as saying that Ms Wong's friends had recounted how she told them of her wish for her ashes to be scattered in Nepal. Her wake is being held in Jurong West.

Ms Wong, 46, a quantity surveyor, died last Friday on her way to Mount Everest's base camp at 5,364m, the starting point for the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon.

She had arrived at a small Nepalese village called Lobuche one day earlier.

Family members said her races had taken her overseas to places including Indonesia and Taiwan, but Nepal was close to her heart.

"She loved nature," said Mr Wong as he showed reporters a slide show of his sister. "I think the video tells a better story than what we can say; you can see how happy and cheerful she was."

The montage showed Ms Wong - who will be cremated tomorrow - at marathons, adventure races and family gatherings.

When asked if she had concerns over the extreme sports Ms Wong participated in, Madam Wong, a 76-year-old retiree, said she could not worry too much. "She was happy doing these things.Life is like this. There's nothing we can do; she can't be brought back to life."

Mr Wong, who is one of Ms Wong's two older brothers, said his sister had found new friends through adventure racing. "We are thankful to those who were with her and who helped with the arrangements in Nepal."

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 01, 2017, with the headline 'Runner who died on way to Everest wanted her ashes scattered in Nepal'. Print Edition | Subscribe

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